Postdoctoral Researcher in Early-Stage Virtual Engineering for Aseptic Production

Aalborg University; København; Hybrid; DKK 480,000 - 560,000; Full time

Job summary

Aalborg University’s Department of Materials and Production invites a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher for a fixed-term appointment to explore virtual engineering approaches for aseptic production. You will work across Aalborg East Campus and Novo Nordisk facilities on early-stage production concepts, building models and a fast decision system to guide decisions.

You will collaborate across disciplines, document results, and communicate with stakeholders while focusing on innovation at the

Qualifications

• PhD-level qualification in a closely related area.
• Ability to translate technical challenges into structured modelling and simulation activities.
• Excellent spoken and written English with ability to present results to academics and industry.
• Independent, systematic work style with strong collaboration across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Develop models and simulations for early-stage production concepts and aseptic production.
• Build and assess scenarios for new production concepts at a very early stage.
• Verify relevant data at plant-simulation level and demonstrate a fast decision machine.
• Collaborate with academic and industrial partners and document results clearly.
• Plan and execute research with systematic, thorough preparation and follow-through.

Skills

English communication

Modelling & simulation

Independent yet collaborative

Education

PhD in production concept development or related area

Job description

Would you like to develop virtual engineering approaches that can support decision-making in aseptic production before a new production concept takes physical form? The Department of Materials and Production at Aalborg University is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher for a fixed-term appointment of three months, with an expected start date of 1 December 2026 or as soon as possible hereafter.

Your work tasks

You will join the Research Group on Robotics and Automation at the Department of Materials and Production, where you will contribute to research at the intersection of production engineering, simulation and industrial application. The position focuses on virtual engineering tools and principles for aseptic production, with particular attention to the very early stages of developing new production concepts. You will work partly at Aalborg University’s Aalborg East Campus and partly at relevant Novo Nordisk facilities, connecting research-based methods with the practical conditions of regulated production environments.

Your main task will be to investigate how virtual engineering can support decisions that go beyond optimising an existing production setup. You will build and assess scenarios for new production concepts at an early stage, develop models and simulations for these scenarios, and verify relevant data at plant-simulation level. A central part of the work will be the development and demonstration of a "fast decision machine" that can provide a qualified basis for early decisions concerning future aseptic production. You will plan and carry out your research systematically, collaborate with academic and industrial partners, document results, and communicate technical findings clearly to relevant stakeholders.

Qualification requirements

Appointmentaspostdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.

You hold a doctoral degree in an area closely related to production concept development, changeable manufacturing systems or reconfigurable manufacturing systems. You have a solid understanding of complex production environments and can translate technical challenges into structured modelling and simulation activities. You communicate confidently in spoken and written English and can present technical results in a clear and relevant manner to both academic and industrial audiences.

You work independently and systematically when addressing complex modelling tasks, while recognising the value of close collaboration across disciplines and organisational settings. You are able to engage constructively with researchers and industrial partners and contribute to a professional working environment through thorough preparation, open dialogue and reliable follow-through. Experience with disseminating scientific topics to industry is relevant for the role, and familiarity with regulated industries, including pharmaceutical production, will help you understand the context in which the research is applied.

Who we are

The Department of Materials and Production conducts research and education within areas that contribute to the development of future production systems and technologies. In the Research Group on Robotics and Automation, you will become part of an environment where research, engineering practice and collaboration with industry meet. You will work with colleagues who investigate how automation, robotics, modelling and digital approaches can create better foundations for production development and industrial decision-making.

The position offers a focused opportunity to contribute to a concrete research challenge in close collaboration with a major industrial partner. The combination of work at Aalborg University and relevant Novo Nordisk facilities will give you insight into both the methodological development of virtual engineering approaches and their potential application in aseptic production.

Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information

Read more about our recruitment process here

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Salary and terms of employment

The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. Furthermore, your terms of employment and salary are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities.

You can find information about the salary and salary structure for the position in the Salary Overview for Recruitment - Scientific positions (VIP). Please refer to the introductory section of the page and the section entitled "Postdoc".

Aalborg University

- Knowledge for the world

Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.